Massacre In Gaza

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for
good men to do nothing" Edmund BurkeYou are probably aware that the Israeli Cabinet has in
the last few days approved the launch of a military operation against
Gaza by all the forces of the Israeli demolishing forces (IDF). The
assault was launched at around 11:30 am and carried out in two separate
waves of attacks, during which over 100 bombs were dropped on dozens of
targets. Some 80 warplanes and helicopters took part in the assault
destroying several civil police compound and civilian homes. Television footage showed dead bodies scattered on a
road and wounded and dead being carried away by distraught rescuers.
There was widespread damage to buildings. Till now, (17: pm) more than
205 people were killed and at least 750 were wounded, 125 people out of
them with critical injuries, in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip
on this black Saturday, according to Ministry of health and human
rights organizations.

The military operation makes the Palestinian blood fall
like rain. As a consequence, the civilian population in the cities of
Rafah, Khan-Younis, middle camps, Gaza City, Beit Hanoun and Beit
Lahiya and in the refugee camp of Jabaliya is suffering from the most
horrible onslaught of Israeli military power.

According to statistics received Al-Awda hospital (UHWC), in Jabalia
and Beit-lahia, in just 3 hours 18 people were killed . Another 85
people were injured and 16 remain in a critical condition. The number
of deaths and injured and the extent of the damage are increasing by
the minute.

Infrastructure is being destroyed, leaving many areas
without power and water. Military forces curtail all movement,
preventing medical and health workers from reaching the injured, as
well as the chronic and routine cases needing medical services. Al-Awda
Hospital in Jabaliya is very close to the military operation area and
medical teams and health workers attempting to evacuate the injured
risk are being killed themselves. Medical supplies in the hospital are
largely exhausted and already food supplies for in-patients and staff
are dwindling.

Beit Hanoun has been hit the hardest and the people
there are facing a real health crisis. The men and women of UHWC are
working around the clock and at risk to themselves to deal with this
humanitarian disaster. All indications are that this latest assault on
Palestinian civil society is a repeat of the grave and massive
violations of Palestinian human rights by Israel, and, there is no sign
of the military easing their offensive.

Unless the international community puts pressure on
Israel to stop the mass killing of civilians and the willful
destruction of property and infrastructure, the people of Gaza will
again be forced to suffer the humiliating and crippling dictates of
Israel's military rule. It could also lead to the full re-occupation of
the entire Gaza Strip.UHWC asks you, to issue a strong Last Appeal Statement
condemning Israel's human rights violations against the Palestinian
people and to demand a cessation of this military offensive. Israel's
persistent unilateral attempts to change by force the situation of some
1.5 million Palestinians blatantly contravene
international humanitarian law and all human rights conventions.
Furthermore, they are morally reprehensible. There are no political
considerations which can justify the silence of the international
community any longer.